#maplelea

If you're not familiar with Maplelea, they are a Canadian company that produces beautiful dolls and doll accessories, with an emphasis on exquisite quality and attention to details. They are proud of their Canadian heritage and they aim to encourage pride in a Canadian identity. As someone who is half Canadian, I have loved everything I've ever bought from them, including my beloved doll Léonie! I've learned so much from her about Canadian history and culture in the five years since I brought her home.

First you'll want to check out the newest Maplelea&Me dolls:

And then take a peek at some of the absolutely iconic outfits! Maplelea knows what they do best (cozy knitwear), and they're also great at making gender neutral outfits with a focus on outdoor exploration, physical activity, and education.

And I cannot overstate how absolutely amazing their doll footwear is!!! Each shoe is like a shrunken-down version of human shoes, with all the fine details and sturdy materials.

Maplelea does remind us often that their shoes will fit all other brands of 18 inch dolls, and as someone with numerous brands of 18 inch dolls, I can say this is 100% true. All my dolls love wearing Mapelea shoes and probably argue over them when I'm not around.

This is not a paid advertisement and I earn $0 if you buy something from them--I'm just a big fan!

Every year for, oh, the past 8 years or so? I’ve made my sister some doll clothes for Christmas. This year I finally cut into fabric that had been just waiting to be turned into a dress for Saila. I don’t have any pics of it on her yet, but it’s adorable, even cuter than it is off the doll.

The plan was always for a tank top dress/sleeveless dress, but I decided a few bodice details would be adorable.

The bodice is pieced and then top-stitched to give it an almost corset-like look. It does show up great in pictures because the fabric is pretty busy, but it’s a lovely subtle touch in person.

The back has Velcro that goes down well into the skirt, which is something I usually forget to do, but it makes dressing the doll miles easier!

And the skirt is a nice mid-thigh length because I was trying my hardest not to make it too long.

(I have a tendency to make doll skirts and dressses reach mid-calf because I’m afraid of them being too short. But I did really well on this one - it’s perfect!)

Changing a few of the girls in the new clothes i bought. (and the Buzzinbea ripped jeans and the Molly’s school shirt that’s still without buttons).

The gold hoops look great on Raquel. I wanted to match her earring to the rest of her jewelry.

I’ve somehow misplaced Corinne’s sweater. I probably set it apart so I would know where it is, but it’s eluded me so far. It’ll turn up.

Leonie’s traditional outfit was so many layers! I had to reference the papers it came with for the kerchief. I have to mend the snap on it, and the bonnet needs an iron. I was actually leaning towards disliking the skirt due to the elastic waist. But you can even tell under the bodice. I folded down the bib for a half apron look (it shows up too well on camera vs irl…). But it really is a fine outfit!

So, Doctor Who is currently my biggest special interest, from the show to books to audio dramas, and I decided to combine it with my doll special interest and customize 18-inch dolls for every one of the Doctors!

The thing is, this show has been running since 1963. Every time the Doctor is killed by something, they regenerate into a new actor. We’re currently up to Fifteen:

Plus two more, technically:

The War Doctor comes between Eight and Nine but was a soldier who did terrible things (and was added later so never starred on the show), so they don’t like to count him. And the Fugitive Doctor is…a nebulous addition from some time in the past. She’s mysterious. I do have one friend for whom War is her favorite, but I don’t care about him. However, there’s no way I’m not making that shirt, so Fugitive is definitely happening.

And then I added my favorite companions to get to a nice even twenty: Romanadvoratrelundar, Roz Forrester, Ace McShane, and Leela of the Sevateem (Roz is from the books so images of her are limited).

Infodump about face molds and where I am so far below the cut!

and also, a little late,

Happy Jammie January!